A glorious Tuesday to blog nation here. I’m feeling as tired as a Bill Simmons analogy this morning, however, after staying up til about 1:30 downloading Itunes onto the Ipod, before getting into the Ibed and setting the Iclock.

Was in an interesting music mood last night. Some might choose a different word, with my selections being two Michael Jackson songs, one Rolling Stones and one Mozart. Listen, I know most young people now think Michael Jackson is an alien being which, come to think of it, I guess I do too now. But the man could deliver a great tune in his heyday. I bought “The Lady in my Life” from Thriller and “Butterflies” from his last album, of which I have no idea the name.
I like some of his slower, more dreamy and ryhthmic tunes, which the aforementioned qualify. I’m not much of a “Beat It” or “Billie Jean” guy, perhaps because they were each played approximately 4,342,941 times when MTV first started out and they actually played, you know, music videos. Give me my two, plus things like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”
The Rolling Stones track was “Monkey Man” for the great guitar licks and Mick Jagger’s soulful croon, before his voice turned into what today sounds like, well I’m not sure exactly. The same thing happened to Jagger as happened to Elton John: they can’t hit those high notes anymore, those fresher, rawer sounding ones like John on “Rocket Man” or “Benny and the Jets.” Both of them now, especially in concert, both kind of shout their words in the same deeper sounding, croaking bleat. Guess they just got old. It happens, kids.

There will be hockey tonight, and all I can safely predict is that one team will win and one will lose. Who that will be, between Detroit and Anaheim, you got me.

The last time Anaheim won a stirring overtime game in Detroit, they came home and took a 5-0 wax job from the Wings. Then the Wings turn around and lose the next game to a team without Chris Pronger, a game they had two 5-on-3s and all the momentum in the world.

Now the Ducks are back home, up 3-2 after stealing Game 5 at the Joe. So logic of this series dictates Detroit wins easy tonight, setting up a Game 7 showdown. What’s clear so far is that Detroit’s offense is better than Anaheim’s, but Anaheim’s defense and special teams are a bit better, and, as often is the case, it comes down to who gets the better goaltending.

I still am not sold on J.S. Giguere being a money, Stanley Cup-winning goalie. He wasn’t very good in Game 3, and still lets in a big softie a lot (Detroit’s only goal in Game 5 being an example). Yet, his overall stats are great so far, and he bailed out his team the other day. Dominik Hasek, for all his hardware, has his bad moments, too. The goal to Selanne in OT was a good example. I know Selanne came in alone on him, but why does Hasek fall on his back when Selanne only has a backhand chance? All he had to do was stand square and Selanne would have had little place to shoot it. Instead, he opened up the whole top half of the net and Selanne gratefully buried it.

So, as Peter Forsberg would say, “We’ll just have to see” what happens tonight. I won’t make any prediction, because I know fans of that team will automatically want to reach for an arsenic capsule.

A couple of other quick hits here before I scan for more MJ tunes:
Thanks for the kudos on my book, “Blood Feud.” It’s gotten good notices, except for one nastly slam from some Amazon reviewer. And I think I might know who left it. Let’s just say that this person seems to have a little too much knowledge of the technical side of the writing/newspaper business, and might be someone with a personal ax to grind. Oh well, it’s always so brave when someone leaves an anonymous rip job like that.

Someone asked whether I think the Avs will pick up Ian Laperriere’s option, and my answer is yes. He’s too much of a locker room leader to let go, and even though his scoring was way down and hurt the team this year, I think he played well enough in other areas to warrant another year.

I hear Pierre Turgeon will coach a Colorado girls hockey team this year. No word whether he’ll retire yet, but I’d say it doesn’t look good that another team – including the Avs – would sign him again.

I thought it was smart for the Avs to re-sign Jeff Finger, along with Leopold and Sauer. It was amazing how much better Sauer played in the final third of the year. If he plays anywhere near that level this coming year, the Avs will have a very solid defenseman.

We may see the departure of Ossi Vaananen, who is unrestricted. The Avs may be planning to let him go, and use his salary as partly a way to sign a bigger-name free agent D-man. Think Scott Hannan, Sheldon Souray or Kimmo Timmonen.

As fas as a forward goes, it’s anybody’s guess right now. I just can’t see Chris Drury coming on the open market, not unless there’s a secret reason why he might want to leave Buffalo. Ryan Smyth is a very intriguing possibility, but in a way my thinking on him is a little like Kevin Lowe’s. Is he really worth $6 million a year? He’s in his 30s and it’s not like he set the world on fire with the Islanders. Do you want to lock up a player that long at such a price tag? It’s a big risk. On the other hand, he’s a great locker room leader, and he can still put the biscuit in the basket. And, I know Joe Sakic is a buddy of his. So, it’s possible.

If the Avs even attempt to sign Souray, that would outdo the bone-headedness of the Theo and Drury deals combined. Outside of his heavy shot and PP abilities, he is not much of a hockey player. It would be an amazing waste of money to have his no-defense playing ass eating up tons of cap space. Please, Adrian, stop advocating this madness! Hannan, Rafalski or Sutton are the way to go to improve the defense.

Scoring is not the Avs issue. You were at the games; you were, presumably, watching. Keeping the puck out of the Avs net was the problem. If Budaj is going to be the guy, he will need some help and Souray won’t provide that.

Having said that, I am with you on Smyth. I don’t see how you can justify spending 6 mil on a guy who, while good on the forecheck and in the locker room, is only going to get you 70 pts a season. He overpriced himself but some idiot will show him the money.

Zane

If the Avs even attempt to sign Souray, that would outdo the bone-headedness of the Theo and Drury deals combined. Outside of his heavy shot and PP abilities, he is not much of a hockey player. It would be an amazing waste of money to have his no-defense playing ass eating up tons of cap space. Please, Adrian, stop advocating this madness! Hannan, Rafalski or Sutton are the way to go to improve the defense.

Scoring is not the Avs issue. You were at the games; you were, presumably, watching. Keeping the puck out of the Avs net was the problem. If Budaj is going to be the guy, he will need some help and Souray won’t provide that.

Having said that, I am with you on Smyth. I don’t see how you can justify spending 6 mil on a guy who, while good on the forecheck and in the locker room, is only going to get you 70 pts a season. He overpriced himself but some idiot will show him the money.

Just for kicks, I hope the Avs pick up a good roaming defenseman that can pass. I don’t think they need another offensive d-man, i.e. Leopold or Liles.

Thanks again for the Avs blog (and thanks to Terry Frei).

Limey

I disagree on two points. How can any deal be worse that Theo and Drury deals combined? Secondly and more importantly, Souray would bring a major improvement to the Avs defensive corp. The power play was fair to decent this year but relied on quick precise puck movement from behind the goal line to score. Once teams recognized this and gave up the blue line we ran out of passing lanes. Souray forces a strong defensive forcheck creating lanes for our mid rage set plays. His shot from the point has to be respected.

The main problem with the defensive zone this last season was lack of backside pressure from the forwards and a lack of zone awareness on defense. This was a scheme and coaching issue that when addressed produced amazing results with the same personnel.

Sourayâ€™s defensive weaknesses arenâ€™t glaring and could be mitigated with a faster positional defenseman, perhaps Clark, as his partner. Without a doubt the most converted free agent in my mind. Souray is a blue chip defenseman that could grow into a top 5 Dman with the right team.

My only question is how can you let a player like that go?

Limey

I disagree on two points. How can any deal be worse that Theo and Drury deals combined? Secondly and more importantly, Souray would bring a major improvement to the Avs defensive corp. The power play was fair to decent this year but relied on quick precise puck movement from behind the goal line to score. Once teams recognized this and gave up the blue line we ran out of passing lanes. Souray forces a strong defensive forcheck creating lanes for our mid rage set plays. His shot from the point has to be respected.

The main problem with the defensive zone this last season was lack of backside pressure from the forwards and a lack of zone awareness on defense. This was a scheme and coaching issue that when addressed produced amazing results with the same personnel.

Sourayâ€™s defensive weaknesses arenâ€™t glaring and could be mitigated with a faster positional defenseman, perhaps Clark, as his partner. Without a doubt the most converted free agent in my mind. Souray is a blue chip defenseman that could grow into a top 5 Dman with the right team.

My only question is how can you let a player like that go?

Mark

I’d love Souray’s shot, but I think that if we could get Timonen, I’d be all for it

Mark

I’d love Souray’s shot, but I think that if we could get Timonen, I’d be all for it

Joe

I wouldn’t pay too much attention to Amazon.com “reviews”. Just like anywhere else on the Internet, any moron with a keyboard and a pulse can write whatever they want, regardless of how ridiculous or inaccurate their statements may be.

Case in point: I’m typing this comment right now.

Dater, I’m sure you’ve heard worse from better people—don’t sweat it.

Joe

I wouldn’t pay too much attention to Amazon.com “reviews”. Just like anywhere else on the Internet, any moron with a keyboard and a pulse can write whatever they want, regardless of how ridiculous or inaccurate their statements may be.

Case in point: I’m typing this comment right now.

Dater, I’m sure you’ve heard worse from better people—don’t sweat it.

George

Drury is a long shot…I doubt Buffalo will let him go. Smyth isn’t worth the money. If we want a good value for the price, we need to seriously consider a couple of guys who still have some quality years left: Owen Nolan and Tony Amonte

My personal favorite among the available free agent centers seems to be flying under the radar, and would come cheaper than Drury. Imagine having Petr Sykora as a 2nd or 3rd line center! Not too shabby. Hope management gives him some thought…

As for a high quality defenseman: Sourary — no! Want a much better deal? Try Brian Rafalski, Kimmo Timonen or Roman Hamrlik!

George

Drury is a long shot…I doubt Buffalo will let him go. Smyth isn’t worth the money. If we want a good value for the price, we need to seriously consider a couple of guys who still have some quality years left: Owen Nolan and Tony Amonte

My personal favorite among the available free agent centers seems to be flying under the radar, and would come cheaper than Drury. Imagine having Petr Sykora as a 2nd or 3rd line center! Not too shabby. Hope management gives him some thought…

As for a high quality defenseman: Sourary — no! Want a much better deal? Try Brian Rafalski, Kimmo Timonen or Roman Hamrlik!

Nick

My favs out of all that were Ryan Smythe and Kimmo Timmonen. Souray would be sweet but Timmonen is dangerous offensively too..not to mention a stud on D. Giguere letting in softies is the biggest understatement of the year. I cannot stand the way that guy plays goalie. By far he has the least amount of “talent” of any goalie out there. He just uses huge pads and plays position on every shot. If he didn’t have an amazing D in front of him..that guy would be terrible!!!

Nick

My favs out of all that were Ryan Smythe and Kimmo Timmonen. Souray would be sweet but Timmonen is dangerous offensively too..not to mention a stud on D. Giguere letting in softies is the biggest understatement of the year. I cannot stand the way that guy plays goalie. By far he has the least amount of “talent” of any goalie out there. He just uses huge pads and plays position on every shot. If he didn’t have an amazing D in front of him..that guy would be terrible!!!

Phil Canyon

We don’t need more scoring. But, we need some good three big, strong, hard skating defensive forwards and three defenseman.

Phil Canyon

We don’t need more scoring. But, we need some good three big, strong, hard skating defensive forwards and three defenseman.

Charlie

Hi there. I have watched J.S. Giguere since his junior hockey days in my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and he is more than capable of winning the big game. I like Budaj and Theo, but I think Giguere is better than both of them. I have faith in Budaj, however, because Joe Sakic raved to Peter Stastny last year about how good he was, and he did nothing to dispell that this year. Ryan Smyth is a great player, and deserves every cent he gets!! Captain Canada (along with Joe Sakic of course) would look great in an Avs uniform!

Charlie

Hi there. I have watched J.S. Giguere since his junior hockey days in my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and he is more than capable of winning the big game. I like Budaj and Theo, but I think Giguere is better than both of them. I have faith in Budaj, however, because Joe Sakic raved to Peter Stastny last year about how good he was, and he did nothing to dispell that this year. Ryan Smyth is a great player, and deserves every cent he gets!! Captain Canada (along with Joe Sakic of course) would look great in an Avs uniform!

Zane

Look, Souray’s defense is mediocre at best and would handcuff the Avs financially with his salary demands. He would not improve the team in proportion to the money he would cost. He is a bad investment, hands down.

Zane

Look, Souray’s defense is mediocre at best and would handcuff the Avs financially with his salary demands. He would not improve the team in proportion to the money he would cost. He is a bad investment, hands down.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.